Humanities Facility Spotlight:

Digital Media Services: An Invaluable Resource

Digital technology has become an increasingly important tool in our everyday lives, transforming the ways in which we receive and use information. On a daily basis, we are talking on our cell phones, listening to music through our MP3 players, or booking a flight on the Internet—digital technology permeates nearly every area of our lives. One area in particular that it has the power to transform is education. The transfer of knowledge can be greatly enhanced by digital media tools. Subject matter is easier to access and to disseminate—steps that are central to teaching.

The students, faculty, and staff in the College of Humanities are fortunate to have at their disposal—and in close proximity—Digital Media Services (DMS), a division of Humanities Information Systems housed in Hagerty Hall. DMS is charged with providing support to the faculty, staff and graduate students in their use of media technology for instructional, research, or administrative purposes. The DMS studio represents the very best and latest in hypermedia technology.

Special services to assist clients in their use of digital media to enhance learning include: media drop-off services such as media duplication, format conversion, and audio/video digitizing as well as professional audio and video production, photography, and consulting.

Scott Sprague and Paul Kotheimer, the studio’s full time staff, are experienced digital content producers who advise the faculty, staff, and graduate students on how to best incorporate media technology into their projects. They make certain that the studio remains current on the latest equipment, software, and production techniques to ensure the creation of quality digital media. They provide support for projects diverse in subject matter and digital content and continue to integrate the means to support new digital media projects as technologies advance.

Chair and Professor Dan Collins says, “I consider visual data an essential part of my teaching in Slavic culture classes. Scott and Paul tutored me in the nuances of Photoshop and have helped me scan and edit hundreds, perhaps thousands, of visuals for my classes. In addition, they have undertaken extensive video editing and digitizing, optical character recognition, and numerous other technical services that were needed to enhance my teaching.”

Research Associate Amy Horowitz adds, “The DMS staff help low-tech humanists achieve their often over-reaching multi-media goals. They understand the (at times) conflicting languages of content and electronic media; whether they are editing videos of Protest Music as Responsible Citizenship or the Salaam, Shalom, Peace Project (a video featuring a project among 5th graders at local Muslim, Jewish, and Catholic day schools), they do so with sensitivity, expertise, artistry, and leadership.”